Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/24—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
  • B64G1/26—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using jets
  • B64G1/262—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using jets having adjustable angles, e.g. gimbaled thrusters
  • B64G1/264—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using jets having adjustable angles, e.g. gimbaled thrusters mounted on adjustable booms or the like
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/40—Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/40—Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
  • B64G1/411—Electric propulsion
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/40—Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
  • B64G1/411—Electric propulsion
  • B64G1/415—Arcjets or resistojets

Definitions

• Satellites and other spacecraft typically utilize chemical rocket propulsion systems to propel themselves into orbit and to perform mission operations. Although such propulsion systems provide relatively large amounts of thrust, rocket propulsion systems are generally propellant inefficient and have a low specific impulse. As a result, satellites and spacecraft propelled by rocket propulsion systems typically carry a large proportion of their mass as propellant, leaving a relatively small proportion of the mass available for mission payloads. Electric propulsion systems provide a viable alternative to rocket propulsion systems for long- range or long-duration missions, which require large amounts of propellant. Electric propulsion systems operate by using electric energy to expel propellant, typically particles of ionized gas, at high speeds.
• the system may comprise a thruster mounting structure, the thruster mounting structure comprising a first rotational joint attached to a vehicle and configured to rotate in a first axis.
• the thruster mounting structure may further comprise a boom connected to the first rotational joint, wherein the first rotational joint is configured to pivot the boom about the first axis.
• the thruster mounting structure may further comprise a second rotational joint attached to the boom and configured to rotate in the first axis.
• the thruster mounting structure may further comprise a third rotational joint attached to the second rotational joint and configured to rotate in a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
• the second rotational joint may be configured to pivot the third rotational joint about the first axis.
• the thruster mounting structure may further comprise a thruster pallet attached to the third rotational joint, wherein the third rotational joint is configured to pivot the thruster pallet about the second axis, and a thruster that is fixedly attached to the thruster pallet.
• the thruster pallet comprises a rectangular face
• the third rotational joint may be configured to attach to the thruster pallet along a long edge of the rectangular face.
• the vehicle may be any suitable vehicle, including a satellite or other spacecraft, and may comprise any suitable shape.
• a satellite that is shaped like a cube or a rectangular prism
• other satellite and spacecraft shapes may be contemplated, as will be understood by one of skill in the art.
• the thruster mounting structure may be mounted on any suitable surface of the vehicle, including a flat surface of a cube/rectangular prism. Other mounting surfaces may be contemplated as will be understood by those of skill in the art.
• the systems and methods described herein are described in terms of an electric thruster, it will be understood that any suitable thruster may be utilized with the mounting structure described herein.
• the first axis may be a roll axis of the vehicle, and the second axis may be a yaw axis, pitch axis or a combination of pitch axis and yaw axis of the vehicle.
• the first axis may be a yaw axis of the vehicle, and the second axis may be a roll axis, pitch axis or a combination of roll axis and pitch axis of the vehicle.
• the first rotational joint and the second rotational joint may be motorized rotational joints.
• the rotational joints may employ motors, servos, or any other suitable mechanism for changing and maintaining a rotational movement.
• the rotational joints may employ motors, servos, or any other suitable mechanism for changing and maintaining a rotational movement.
• the rotational joints may receive control inputs to change and maintain a rotational angle.
• the rotational joints may be configured to stiffly maintain a rotational angle until a control is received to change the rotational angle.
• a second thruster may be connected to the thruster pallet.
• the second thruster may be substantially identical to the first thruster, or it may be substantially different.
• the second thruster may be configured to provide substantially the same thrust as the first thruster in order to act as a redundant thruster.
• the thruster mounting structure may be able to orient the thruster pallet in a variety of positions, including a stowed position, a station keeping position, and an orbit raising position.
• the boom In the stowed position, the boom may be positioned substantially parallel and/or flush to the vehicle and the thruster pallet may be connected to the vehicle.
• the thruster pallet may be mated to a retaining receptacle which may secure the thruster pallet while the thruster pallet is not deployed.
• the thruster pallet may be secured to the vehicle body during launch to minimize space and to minimize vibration and other forces on the thruster mounting structure.
• the thruster pallet may be kept flush to the vehicle in the stowed position.
• the thruster may be facing a direction substantially perpendicular to the vehicle or vehicle face that the thruster mounting structure is mounted to.
• the thruster may be faced substantially outward or substantially toward the vehicle, in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle face.
• the thruster mounting structure may be arranged into a station keeping position.
• the station keeping position as discussed in further detail below, may encompass a wide variety of orientations intended to position the thrust vector such that an orbit of the satellite/spacecraft may be maintained.
• the thruster will be released from the vehicle body and manipulated using the first, second, and third rotational joints.
• the boom will not be parallel to the vehicle in the station keeping position.
• the boom will be kept perpendicular to the vehicle or a face of the vehicle.
• the thrusters in the station keeping position may generate a thrust vector that points through a center of gravity of the vehicle.
• the thruster mounting structure may be arranged into an orbit raising position.
• the boom In the orbit raising position, the boom may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the vehicle or a face of the vehicle.
• the thruster pallet may be released from any restraining receptacle on the vehicle body.
• the thruster and/or thruster pallet In the orbit raising position, the thruster and/or thruster pallet may be pointed in a direction substantially parallel to the vehicle.
• the thruster may be spaced a distance away from the vehicle, for example, by the boom. In this manner, the thruster may be positioned to generate a thrust vector that may be used to raise or transfer an orbit of the vehicle.
• the system may comprise a second thruster mounting structure.
• the second thruster mounting structure may be substantially similar to the first thruster mounting structure.
• the vehicle may comprise a rectangular prism shape, and the first thruster mounting structure and the second thruster mounting structure may be mounted on opposing faces of the rectangular prism. In this manner, the first thruster mounting structure and the second thruster mounting structure may be controlled independently in order to change the vehicles motion, such as orbit altitude, orbit inclination, eccentricity, and/or drift.
• the second thruster mounting structure may comprise a fourth rotational joint attached to a vehicle, the fourth rotational joint configured to rotate in the first axis.
• the fourth rotational joint may be configured to rotate in substantially the same axis as the axis of the first rotational joint of the first thruster mounting structure.
• the second thruster mounting structure may further comprise a second boom that may be connected to the fourth rotational joint, wherein the fourth rotational joint is configured to pivot the boom about the first axis.
• the second thruster mounting structure may comprise a fifth rotational joint, which may be attached to the second boom and configured to rotate in the first axis.
• the second thruster mounting structure may further comprise a sixth rotational joint attached to the fifth rotational joint, the sixth rotational joint configured to rotate in the second axis, and wherein the fifth rotational joint is configured to pivot the sixth rotational joint about the first axis.
• the second thruster mounting structure may further comprise a second thruster pallet attached to the sixth rotational joint, wherein the sixth rotational joint is configured to pivot the second thruster pallet about the second axis, and a second thruster may be fixedly attached to the second thruster pallet.
• FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a satellite
• FIG. 2 shows an illustrative diagram of a satellite orbit
• FIG. 3 shows an illustrative diagram of an orbit raising maneuver
• FIG. 4 shows an illustrative diagram of a first and a second thruster mounting structure
• FIG. 5 shows an illustrative diagram of a first and a second thruster mounting structure positioned in a station keeping position
• FIG. 6 shows an illustrative diagram of a first and a second thruster mounting structure positioned in an orbit raising position
• FIG. 7 shows an illustrative diagram of a thruster mounting structure positioned in a stowed position
• FIG. 8 shows an illustrative diagram of a thruster mounting structure positioned in a station keeping position
• FIG. 9 shows an illustrative diagram of a thruster mounting structure positioned in an orbit raising position
• FIGs. 10A-E show illustrative diagrams of a first and a second thruster mounting structure in various positions.
• FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a satellite 100.
• the satellite 100 may comprise satellite body 102, solar panels 104, solar panel mounting system 105, communications antenna 106, and communications antenna mounting system 107.
• the satellite 100 is provided for illustrative purposes only, and it will be understood that the thruster mounting structure described herein may be integrated into any suitable satellite.
• the satellite body 102 may be any suitable shape, including, but not limited to, a cube or a rectangular prism.
• the solar panels 104 may be configured to generate electric power from incident sunlight and may be mounted on any suitable face(s) of the satellite body 102 through solar panel mounting system 105.
• the solar panel mounting system 105 may comprise actuators configured to rotate and/or angle the solar panels 104.
• the solar panel mounting system 105 may rotate or angle the solar panels 104 to track the sun in order to generate the most electric power for the satellite.
• the solar panel mounting system 105 may also include means for stowing and/or deploying the solar panels 104.
• the solar panels 104 may be designed to fold for storage and unfold for deployment.
• the solar panel mounting system 105 may comprise actuators and/or latches to maintain the solar panels in a stowed position until a control signal is received to deploy the solar panels 104.
• the communications antenna 106 may be any suitable equipment for communicating data from the satellite. For instance, the communications antenna 106 may generate electromagnetic waves directed toward a ground station on Earth in order to communicate with mission control.
• the communications antenna 106 may be connected to the satellite body 102 through communications antenna mounting system 107.
• the communications antenna mounting system 107 may comprise actuators and/or latches for maintaining the communications antenna 106 in a stowed state (e.g., folded against the satellite body 102) until a control signal is received to deploy the communications antenna 106.
• the satellite 100 may also comprise one or more of the thruster mounting structures described in further detail below.
• the thruster mounting structure(s) may be mounted or integrated on any suitable surface of satellite body 102.
• two thruster mounting structures may be mounted on the same faces as the solar panels 104, one for each face. In this manner, the pair of thruster mounting structures may work in tandem to position two or more thrusters to provide thruster vectoring for station keeping or orbit raising transfer maneuvers.
• the thruster mounting structures may comprise any suitable type of propulsion system.
• the thruster mounting structures may comprise electric thrusters.
• the satellite 100 may further comprise traditional rocket-based thrusters mounted on any suitable surface of the spacecraft body 102, such that the satellite 100 is propelled by a combination of a chemical-based rocket propulsion system and an electric propulsion system.
• the chemical-based rocket propulsion system may be mounted to the satellite body 102 using the thruster mounting structure described herein, or by any other suitable method.
• the satellite 100 may comprise only an electric propulsion system.
• the satellite 100 may comprise electric thrusters mounted to the satellite body 102 through a thruster mounting structure as described further below, in addition to electric thrusters which are mounted to the satellite body 102 through other means.
• the thruster mounting structures may provide redundant or additional propulsion capacity in addition to a primary propulsion system.
• FIG. 2 shows an illustrative diagram of a satellite orbit 200.
• the satellite 204 may be substantially similar to the satellite 100 described in relation to FIG. 1 and may orbit around celestial body 202.
• Celestial body 202 may be any suitable celestial body, including, but not limited to, the Earth, the moon, the sun, a planet, a star, or any other celestial body.
• the satellite 204 may establish an orbit 206 around the celestial body 202.
• the orbit 206 may comprise one or more of the following orbital characteristics: an altitude, a semi-major axis, an eccentricity, an inclination, and argument of periapsis, a longitude of the ascending node, a time of periapsis passage, a radius of periapsis, and a radius of apoapsis.
• an altitude a semi-major axis
• an eccentricity an inclination
• argument of periapsis a longitude of the ascending node
• a time of periapsis passage a radius of periapsis
• a radius of periapsis a radius of apoapsis
• the communications satellite may establish a geostationary (GEO) orbit at an altitude of 35,786km above the Earth's equator in order to maintain a fixed position above the Earth's surface.
• GEO geostationary
• an earth-mapping satellite may establish a polar orbit with a relatively high inclination (e.g., close to 90 degrees to the equator) so that it passes the equator at a different longitude on each orbit.
• the orbit 206 may comprise any suitable shape, including a circular orbit, elliptical orbit, or a figure-eight shape.
• the satellite 204 may perform station keeping maneuvers 208 and 210.
• station keeping refers to orbital maneuvers that are required to maintain a desired orbit. Station keeping may be necessary for satellite 204 due to a number of external forces that degrade the orbit of satellite 204, such as air drag, solar radiation pressure, and gravitational forces from the Sun/Moon. In some embodiments, such external forces may decrease or increase the orbit velocity of the satellite 204, causing the altitude (or semi-major axis) of the orbit 206 to decrease or increase accordingly.
• the satellite 204 may perform station keeping maneuver 208 in the direction of the orbit or the direction of travel of the satellite 204 in order to increase or decrease the orbit velocity of the satellite 204 and to counteract the external forces.
• the satellite 204 may perform station keeping maneuver 208 according to a feedback loop, such that the orbital velocity and/or the altitude of the satellite 204 is sensed, and in response to detecting the that orbital velocity and/or the altitude of the satellite 204 is not the same as the desired orbital velocity or altitude, performing the station keeping maneuver 208.
• the feedback loop may comprise communication with a ground station on the celestial body 202 or with another orbiting satellite or spacecraft in order to determine orbital parameters of the satellite 204.
• the feedback loop as discussed above is provided for illustrative purposes only, and it will be understood that any suitable control scheme may be utilized with station keeping maneuver 208.
• external forces may provide an increase or decrease in the velocity of the satellite 204 in directions other than the direction of travel of the satellite 204. Furthermore, the external forces may impart a net torque or rotation on the satellite 204. In such instances, station keeping maneuver 210 may be used to correct for such velocity or rotation changes.
• the external forces may affect one or more of the following orbital parameters of orbit 206: an eccentricity, an inclination, and argument of periapsis.
• a feedback loop may be used to correct for the changes in the orbital parameters.
• one or more of the orbital parameters may be sensed, either directly by the satellite 204 or by a ground station or another satellite, and in response to determining that the sensed orbital parameter(s) is different than a desired orbital parameter(s), performing station keeping maneuver 210.
• a combination of station keeping maneuver 208 and 210 may be utilized to correct for changes in orbital parameter(s).
• station keeping maneuvers 208 and 210 are depicted in Fig. 2 as orthogonal, it will be understood that station keeping maneuvers 208 and 210 may point in any suitable direction for correcting for changes to orbital parameter(s). It will be also understood that station keeping maneuvers 208 and 210 may be produced by any suitable thruster(s), including chemical rocket-based thrusters and electrical thrusters, and any number or
• some thruster(s) may be configured to point through the center of gravity of the satellite 204 and designed to impart a net velocity on the satellite 204, while some thruster(s) may be configured to provide a thrust vector that does not point through the center of gravity of the satellite 204 and designed to impart a net rotation on the satellite 204. Some thruster(s) may be configured to impart both a net velocity and a net rotation on the satellite 204. Some thruster(s) may be fixed in position or rotation, while other thruster(s) may be mounted or gimbaled in a fashion that allows them to move in at least one of six degrees of freedom (three translational, three rotational). For example, one or more of the thrusters mounted onto satellite 204 may be mounted using the thruster mounting structure described herein.
• FIG. 3 shows an illustrative diagram of an orbit raising maneuver 300.
• orbit raising or “orbit transfer” refers to any orbital maneuver that changes the orbit of the satellite 304 from a first orbit 303 to a second orbit 306. Although the orbit raising maneuver 300 is depicted in Fig.
• the orbit raising maneuver 300 may begin at any initial orbit, be it circular or elliptical, and be any suitable orbital maneuver that changes at least one of the following orbital parameters: an altitude, a semi-major axis, an eccentricity, an inclination, and argument of periapsis, a longitude of the ascending node, a time of periapsis passage, a radius of periapsis, and a radius of apoapsis.
• satellite 304 may orbit around celestial body 302 in an initial orbit 303.
• the satellite 304 may be substantially similar to the satellite 100 depicted in Fig. 1.
• the celestial body 302 may be substantially similar to celestial body 202 depicted in Fig. 2.
• the initial orbit 303 may have a radius 305, in addition to other orbital parameters, below that of the final orbit 306.
• the initial orbit may be an elliptical orbit, in addition to other orbital parameters, with a perigee below the final orbit 306 and an apogee that can be below, at, or above the final orbit 306.
• the satellite 304 may perform a multitude of thruster firings 31 Oof finite duration at discrete points in the orbit, continuously over one or more orbital revolutions, or any
• the thruster firing vector 310 may be in the direction of travel of the satellite 304, opposite of the direction of travel of the satellite 304, or any direction in between.
• the thruster firing vector 310 may be at any angle within the orbit and relative to the orbital plane.
• FIG. 4 shows an illustrative diagram of a thruster mounting scheme 400 satellite body 402 comprising a first and a second thruster mounting structure 404.
• the satellite body 402 may be substantially similar to the satellite body 102 depicted in Fig. 1 and discussed above.
• the first thruster mounting structure 404 comprises a thruster pallet 406, a first azimuth actuator 408, a second azimuth actuator 410, an elevation actuator 412, thrusters 414, and boom 418.
• the second thruster mounting structure 419 may comprise substantially the same components as the first thruster mounting structure 404. As depicted in Fig. 4, the first and second thruster mounting structures 404 and 419 may be mounted on opposite faces of the satellite body 402.
• the first azimuth actuator 408 may be configured to rotate in a first direction 424.
• the direction 424 may be a rotation about the z axis, as depicted in FIG. 4.
• the first azimuth actuator 408 is configured to rotate only in the first direction 424. That is, the first azimuth actuator 408 is stiff in rotation to the other two rotational directions.
• the second azimuth actuator 410 may be configured to rotate in a second direction 426, and the elevation actuator 412 may be configured to rotate in direction 428.
• the second azimuth actuator 410 and the elevation actuator 412 may be configured, in some embodiments, to rotate only in the respective directions and to be rigid in the other rotational degrees of freedom.
• the first azimuth actuator 408, the second azimuth actuator 410, and the elevation actuator 412 may be motorized actuators configured to receive control signals and/or setpoints for rotational position, rotational speed, and/or rotational acceleration.
• the thruster pallet 406 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, carbon fiber, or composite material.
• the thruster pallet 406 may be configured into any suitable shape, including a rectangular prism, as depicted in Fig. 4.
• the thrusters 414 may be mounted directly onto the thruster pallet 406 using any suitable means, including, but not limited to, screws, rivets, bolts, welds, adhesives, or any combination thereof. Although two thrusters 414 are depicted in Fig. 4, it will be understood that any number of thrusters may be mounted onto thruster pallet 406.
• the thrusters 414 may be any suitable type of thruster, including electric thrusters and or chemical rocket thrusters.
• the boom 418 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, carbon fiber, or composite material.
• the boom 418 may be any suitable shape and length.
• the boom 418 may be a hollow member with a square cross section.
• the boom 418 may be attached to one or more of the first azimuth actuator 408, the second azimuth actuator 410, and/or the elevation actuator 412 using any suitable means, including, but not limited to, screws, rivets, bolts, welds, adhesives, or any combination thereof.
• the boom 418 may be attached to first azimuth actuator 408 such that the first azimuth actuator 408 may pivot the boom in direction 424.
• the second azimuth actuator 410 may be attached to the thruster pallet 406 by any suitable means, including, but not limited to, screws, rivets, bolts, welds, adhesives, or any combination thereof.
• the second azimuth actuator 410 may be configured to pivot the thruster pallet 406 in direction 426.
• the direction 424 and the direction 426 may be the same.
• the elevation actuator 412 may be connected to the thruster pallet and/or the second azimuth actuator 410.
• the elevation actuator 412 may be configured to pivot the thruster pallet 406 in direction 428.
• the first azimuth actuator 408 may be attached directly to the satellite body 402 using any suitable means, including, but not limited to, screws, rivets, bolts, welds, adhesives, or any combination thereof.
• the first azimuth actuator 408 may rotate the thruster pallet 406 in the direction 424 to provide a slew angle 422.
• the slew angle 422 may allow the thrusters 414 to produce a thrust vector in a direction tangential to the direction of travel or orbital direction. This may enable control of the longitude drift rate and eccentricity vector of the satellite.
• the second azimuth actuator 410 may rotate the thruster pallet 406 to provide a thruster direction 420 that points through the center of gravity of the satellite.
• center of gravity of the satellite is depicted as the center of the square cross-section, the center of gravity may be located at any point within the satellite body 402. In some embodiments, the center of gravity may be outside of the satellite body 402.
• FIG. 5 shows an illustrative diagram of a thruster mounting scheme 500 including a first and a second thruster mounting structures 504 and 519 positioned in a station keeping position.
• the first and second thruster mounting structures 504 and 519 may be substantially similar to first and second thruster mounting structures 404 and 419 described in relation to FIG. 4.
• Satellite body 502 may be substantially similar to satellite body 402 described in relation to FIG.
• first and the second thruster mounting structures 504 and 519 may be mounted along one edge of the satellite body 502.
• the first and the second thruster mounting structures 504 and 519 may be mounted along one edge of the satellite body 502.
• first and second thruster mounting structures 504 and 519 are mounted on the y faces of the satellite body 502.
• first and second thruster mounting structures 504 and 519 may use an elevation actuator, such as elevation actuator 412 depicted in FIG. 4, to pivot the thrusters and produce a thruster vector 520 that points through the center of gravity of the satellite.
• This may produce cant angle 530, measured as the angle between the thrust vector 520 and an x-y plane of the spacecraft body 502.
• the cant angle 530 may allow the thrusters 514 to produce a thrust vector that is normal and/or radial to the direction of travel or the orbital direction of the satellite. This may enable control of the orbit inclination and eccentricity vector.
• the cant angle 530 may enable simultaneous control of the orbit inclination and eccentricity vector.
• the velocity of the satellite may be controlled simultaneously or separately from the angular momentum of the satellite.
• the thrust vector produced by thrusters 414 may be configured to point through the center of gravity, thereby producing a velocity change but no torque, or slightly offset from the center of gravity, thereby producing a net torque.
• the thruster associated with either the first thruster mounting structure 504 or the second thruster mounting structure 519, or both, may be fired. As discussed above in relation to FIG.
• the thruster firings may be performed in order to maintain a certain orbit or orbit characteristics.
• cant angle 530 and slew angle 422 depicted in FIG. 4 a wide range of control options may be enabled for controlling the satellite body 502, thereby allowing for mission optimization and reduced propellant consumption.
• full station keeping operations may be completed by the use of two thrusters and two maneuvers per day or orbital period.
• the first and a second thruster mounting structures 504 and 519 may be configured to control six degrees of freedom (three translational, three rotational) of the satellite body 502. Thus, full orbital and station keeping control may be achieved using only two thrusters.
• FIG. 6 shows an illustrative diagram of a thruster mounting scheme 600 including a first and a second thruster mounting structure 604 and 619 positioned in an orbit raising position.
• the first and second thruster mounting structures 604 and 619 may be substantially similar to first and second thruster mounting structures 404 and 419 described in relation to FIG. 4.
• Satellite body 602 may be substantially similar to satellite body 402 described in relation to FIG. 4.
• the first and the second thruster mounting structures 604 and 619 may be mounted along one edge of the satellite body 602.
• the first and second thruster mounting structures 604 and 619 are mounted on the y faces of the satellite body 602.
• first and second thruster mounting structures 604 and 619 may use an elevation actuator, such as elevation actuator 412 depicted in FIG. 4, to pivot the thrusters so that they produce a thrust vector 620 substantially in the z direction of the vehicle 602 as depicted in Fig. 6.
• the z-direction may be the direction of travel, opposite the direction of travel, or anywhere in between.
• the cant angle 630 created between the thrust vector 620 and the x-y plane of satellite body 602 may be substantially 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the cant angle may point in other directions up to and including the direction through the center of gravity of the vehicle 520 as shown in Figure 5.
• the thruster firings may be performed in order to change the orbit of the satellite from an initial orbit to a final orbit, and/or to change certain orbit characteristics.
• FIG. 7 shows an illustrative diagram of a thruster mounting structure 704 positioned in a stowed position.
• the thruster mounting scheme 700 including the spacecraft body 702, the thruster mounting structure 704, the first azimuth actuator 708, the boom 718, the thruster pallet 706, and the thrusters 714, may be substantially similar to the corresponding components discussed above in relation to FIG. 4.
• the first azimuth actuator 708 is directly connected to the spacecraft body 702 via a bracket 720.
• Directly connecting components together or attaching one component to another component means that the respective components are not connected by an elongate member extending between the respective components; such an elongate member may be a boom.
• the first azimuth actuator 708 includes a stationary portion 722 and a movable attachment portion 724.
• the stationary portion 722 is directly connected to the bracket 720 for mounting the actuator 708 to the spacecraft body 702.
• the movable attachment portion 724 is a portion of the actuator 708 that is rotatable for moving or rotating connected components.
• the boom In the stowed position depicted in FIG. 7, the boom may be substantially parallel to the satellite body 702.
• the boom 718 may be in contact with the satellite body 702.
• the boom 718 may be a spaced distance apart from satellite body 702.
• the boom 718 is spaced from the satellite body 702 by distance equal to a width 726 of actuator 708.
• the thruster pallet 706 may be aligned such that the thrusters 714 are substantially parallel to the satellite body 702, with thrust vectors that point substantially perpendicular to the satellite body 702.
• the thruster pallet 706 may be attached to the satellite body 702 using a mounting structure.
• the mounting structure may include actuators intended to keep the thruster pallet 706 in place during launch, and to deploy the thruster pallet 706 at the appropriate time(s) during the satellite's mission.
• FIG. 8 shows an illustrative diagram of a thruster mounting structure 804 positioned in a station keeping position.
• the thruster mounting scheme 800 including the spacecraft body 802, the thruster mounting structure 804, the first azimuth actuator 808, the boom 818, the bracket 820, the stationary portion 822, the movable attachment portion 824, the second azimuth actuator 810, the thruster pallet 806, and the thrusters 814, may be substantially similar to the corresponding components discussed above in relation to FIG. 4.
• the azimuth actuator 808 includes a movable attachment portion 824 that is rotatable by the actuator 808 for moving or rotating connected components. For example, in the station keeping position depicted in FIG.
• the boom 818 is directly connected to the movable attachment portion 824.
• the first azimuth actuator 808 may rotate the boom 818 in or out from the satellite body 802.
• the boom 818 in FIG. 8 is depicted as substantially perpendicular to satellite body 802, it will be understood that the boom 818 may be rotated to other angles in the station keeping position.
• the second azimuth actuator 810, and an elevation actuator, such as elevation actuator 412 depicted in FIG. 4 may be used to rotate the thruster pallet 806 so that the thrust vector is not perpendicular to the satellite body 802.
• first azimuth actuator 808, the second azimuth actuator 810, and the elevation actuator may be utilized to rotate the thruster pallet into a variety of positions in order to correct for deviations in one or more orbital parameters, as discussed above in relation to FIG. 2.
• FIG. 9 shows an illustrative diagram of a thruster mounting structure 904 positioned in an orbit raising position.
• the thruster mounting scheme 900 including the spacecraft body 902, the thruster mounting structure 904, the first azimuth actuator 908, the boom 918, the second azimuth actuator 910, the elevation actuator 912, the thruster pallet 806, and the thrusters 914, may be substantially similar to the corresponding components discussed above in relation to FIG. 4.
• the first azimuth actuator 908 may rotate the boom 918 out from the satellite body 902.
• the boom 918 in FIG. 9 is depicted as substantially perpendicular to satellite body 902, it will be understood that the boom 918 may be rotated to other angles in the orbit raising position.
• the second azimuth actuator 910 and the elevation actuator 912 may be used to rotate the thruster pallet 906 so that the thrust vector is substantially parallel to the satellite body 902.
• the second azimuth actuator 910 includes a movable attachment portion 930 and a stationary portion 931.
• the stationary portion 931 is directly connected to boom 918.
• the movable attachment portion 930 is directly connected to a movable attachment portion 932 of the elevation actuator 912.
• the second azimuth actuator 910 and elevation actuator 912 are directly connected via a mounting bracket 934 on the thruster pallet 906.
• the second azimuth actuator 910 and elevation actuator 912 may cooperate to rotate the thruster pallet 906 in at least two axes.
• the boom 918 may position the thruster pallet 906 and the thrusters 914 a spaced distance from the satellite body 902.
• the thrusters 914 produce a combined thrust vector that is substantially in line with the z-direction of the vehicle.
• the individual thruster may be rotated such that the individual thrust vector points anywhere between the z-direction and the direction through the center of gravity of the vehicle. As discussed above in relation to FIG. 3, the thrust in this orientation may be used to change the orbit of the satellite from an initial orbit to a final orbit.
• FIGs. 10A-E show illustrative diagrams 1000 of a first and a second thruster mounting structures 1004 in various positions.
• the spacecraft body 1002, the thruster mounting structure 1004, the first azimuth actuator 1008, the boom 1018, the second azimuth actuator 1010, the thruster pallet 1006, and the thrusters 1014 may be substantially similar to the corresponding components discussed above in relation to FIG. 4.
• Fig. 10A depicts the first and second thruster mounting structures 1004 in a stowed position. As discussed above in relation to FIG. 7, in the stowed position, the boom 1018 may be substantially parallel and/or flush with the satellite body 1002.
• the thruster pallet 1006 may be rotated to be parallel along its longest edge and such that the thrusters point outwards from the satellite body 1002. As discussed in relation to FIG. 7, the thruster pallet 1006 may be secured to the satellite body 1002 using a mounting scheme, wherein the mounting scheme is configured to release or deploy the thruster pallet 1006 at an appropriate time(s) during the satellite's mission. In this manner, the stowed position may minimize the storage space required and minimize any adverse forces imparted on the thruster pallet 1006, for example, during launch.
• Fig. 10B depicts the first and second thruster mounting structures 1004 in an orbit raising position.
• the thrusters 1014 may be rotated such that the combined thruster vector points substantially in the zdirection.
• the thrusters may be rotated such that the individual thrust vector points anywhere between the z-direction and the direction through the center of gravity of the vehicle. .
• the thrust in the z-direction may increase the velocity of the satellite and result in a change of orbit.
• the boom 1018 may not be perpendicular to the x-z fact of the satellite body 1002.
• both of the thrusters associated with the first and the second thruster mounting structure may be fired in order to reduce any unwanted rotation on the satellite body 1002.
• Fig. IOC depicts the first and second thruster mounting structures 1004 in a station keeping position.
• the thrusters 1014 may be rotated into a variety of positions to correct for deviations in certain orbit parameters.
• the first and second thruster mounting structures 1004 may correct for deviations in both inclination and eccentricity.
• the orientation of the thrusters 1014 may produce forces in both the z direction and the y direction, which may compensate for external forces in those directions.
• the boom 1018 may not be perpendicular to the x-z fact of the satellite body 1002.
• one or both the of the thrusters associated with the first and the second thruster mounting structure may be fired as needed to correct for orbital deviations.
• Figs. 10D and E depict the first and second thruster mounting structures 1004 in other station keeping positions.
• the thrusters 1014 may be rotated into a variety of positions to correct for deviations in certain orbit parameters.
• the first and second thruster mounting structures 1004 may correct for deviations in inclination, eccentricity, and drift.
• the orientation of the thrusters 1014 may produce forces in all of the x, y, and z directions, which may compensate for external forces in those directions.
• the angle of the thrust vector may be controlled using the first azimuth actuator 1008, the second azimuth actuator 1010, and an elevation actuator such as elevation actuator 412 depicted in FIG. 4.
• the boom 1018 may not be perpendicular to the x-z fact of the satellite body 1002.
• one or both the of the thrusters associated with the first and the second thruster mounting structure may be fired as needed to correct for orbital deviations.
• the orientations depicted in FIGs. 10B, C, D and E may also impart a net torque and/or rotation on the satellite body 1002.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Control Of Position, Course, Altitude, Or Attitude Of Moving Bodies (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)

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